BEPLS, Vol.1 [4] March 2012 14 | P a g e © A E L S , I n d i a

Ethnomedicinal Plants used by Baiga Tribals in Amarkantak Meikal forest of Madhya Pradesh (India)

Rupesh Kapale

Faculty of Life Sciences.Central Tribal University, Amarkantak (M.P.) 484886

ABSTRACT Several ethnomedicinal surveys were carried out in Baiga tribals Villages of M.P and C.G on Various aspect of tribal people. The popular deals with ethnomedicinal plants which are commonly used by tribal people of Meikal hill region of Amarkantak. The Botanical, local and family names of these plants along with the parts used and mode of administration are enumerated. The Baiga tribes of Madhya Pradesh is known for is its unique social, cultural and traditional aspects. Baiga villages mainly found in Natural places and baiga people also called “son of Nature” The present paper aims to documented ethnomedicinal plant mainly used by baiga people for their disease and other disorder. Key words:- Medicinal plants, Amarkantak, baiga chuk ,Biosphere reserve,

INTRODUCTION India is a great Mega biodiversity country of the world and Home to a great variety of ethno medicinal plant species and ranked seventeenth Mega diversity countries of the world. The household remedies practiced by the rural Communities through trial and error method are not only accurate but also confirm to the ayurvedic system. STUDY AREA Amarkantak is situated at a height of about 1000m above MSL on the satpura plateau between 220 41’ N latitude and 810 46’6 longitude in the Anuppure District of Madya paradesh. The area is the eastern most extremity of meikal range. Meikal hills and surrounding area are mainly inhabited by baiga people. The Baiga chuk villages located in dense. Forest area of meikal range, Amarkantak meikal region is also called “Haven of medicinal plants” because most of endemic, endangered & rare medicinal plants are found here and grow naturally in

forest area of Amarkantak (as per described and mentioned in IUCN Red data book) Amarkantak also famous for religious aspects in India. It is the place of origin of Narmada, son and jhohila rivers, The economy of maikal baiga chuk villagers is based upon forest & forest product .

Fig-1 Amarkantak maikal forest range site Fig-2 Map of Amarkantak

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Journal’s URL: www.bepls.com Online ISSN 2277-1808

[Accepted 09 March 2012] Original Article

BEPLS, Vol.1 [4] March 2012 15 | P a g e © A E L S , I n d i a

METHODOLOGY The survey and documentation of ethnomedicinal plants data presented in this paper was conducted during the period of 2009-2010 in Baiga villages of Amarkantak Meikal range Viz. Jamunadadar. Thadpathara, Karangra, jawaleshwar, kharedi, Amanala, Durga dhara.and Barati, etc. The local tribals medicine man of meikal range and their views regarding ethnomedicine were documented as per in presented paper. Later the data were cross checked with the other local herbal healer and general conclusion was derived and different floras and monographs were consulted for identification of plants, interpreters were employed for translating the tribal language. Enumerations :- S. No.

Local Name Scientific Name Family Name Uses

1 Gulbakawali Hedychinum coronarium Zingiberaceae. Conductivities & cure other eye Disorder

2 Brahmi Centella asiatica(Linn.) Apiaceace Cure syphilis, Mental disorder & Skin disease

3 Patal kumhda (Vidari kand)

Pueraria tuberosa Fabaceae Cure abdominal disorder.

4 Akarkara Spilanthus paniculata Asteraceae Use in curing teeth disorder. 5 Brahma Hydrocotyte assiatica Apiaceace Skin disease 6 Shivlingi Bryonio alba. Cucurbitaceae

Make sterility

7 Anantmool Hemidesmus indicus Asclepiadaccee Fever, kidney stone problem. 8 Chitrak Plumbago zylenika Plumbaginaceae Indigestion. 9 Nirgundi. Vitex negundo Verbenaceae Cure to antitoxicants in body

10 Van Adrak Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Zingiberaceae. Cold fever. 11 Kalmegh Andrographis paniculata Acanthaceae Malaria 12 Van dhania Zanthoxylum alatum Apiaceace Gonorrhoea 13 Van Lahsun Allium wallichii Amaryllideceae Skin disease, indigestion 14 Van Makka Ariseama tortuosum Acanthaceae Pilia, Tumour 15 Kanghi Abutilon indicum Malvaceae Urinary disorder 16 Adusa Adhatoda vesica Acanthaceae Worusicides 17 Vidhara Argyreia nervosa Convolvulaceae Wound 18 Higlaj Cassia alata Fabaceac Dysentery 19 Villai Kand Eulophia nuda Orchidaceae Gastric Problem 20 Gurmar Gymnema sylvestre Asclepiadaceae Burning sensation, urinary

discharges 21 Katsaviya Barlaria priontis Acanthaceae Kuker khashi 22 Van piyag Urginea indica Liliaceae Urinary disorder 23 Vanjira Centratherum anthminticum Asteraceae Fever 24 Sudarsan Crinum asiaticum Amaryllidaceae Ear pain and fever 25 Pili Rubia cordifolia Rubiaceae Pilia, blood purifire The study report of some ethnomedicinal plants commonly used by baiga people in the amarkantak meikal forest area are documented and enumerated plants used to cure Various diseases Viz. Stomach disorder. Wound, Jandice, cold & cough, skin disease, joint pains. Headache, fever, asthma, malaria etc. Most of the plants used in the form of decoction. Powder, paste and juice. REFERENCES 1. Saxena H.O. (1970) “The flora of Amarkantak (Madhya Pradesh )” Bull. Bot. Surv. India, 12 (1-4) 2. Mishra R.(1956) The vegetation of Amarkantak Bull. Bot. Soc. Univ.Sagar India, 8 (1) 3. Jain S.K. (1990) “ Observational on ethno botany of the tribals of central India, Contribution to ethno botany of India, 69-

73 4. Jain S.K. (1991) “Dictionary of Indian folk medicine and ethnobotany, The Publication New Delhi. 5. Waheed Khan M.A 1973, Madhya Pradesh plants. Government Regional press. Rewa. 6. Maheswari, J.K. 1964. A Contribution to the flora kanha National park. Madhya Pradesh. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 5(2): 117-

140.

Rupash Kapale